The Roman Journals of Ferdinand Gregorovius 1852-1874

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907. Excerpt: ... Donna Ersilia, the most learned woman in Rome, and perhaps in Italy, has receptions on Thursday evenings, which are frequented by de Rossi, the younger Visconti, by Lanciani, Guidi the Orientalist, Michele Amari, Miniscalchi, Admiral Acton, Menabrea (Prime Minister after the disaster at Mentana, a handsome, quiet man). On March I, was surprised by the news brought by Mariano that the History of the City of Rome in the Middle Ages had been placed on the Index, and that the Osservatore Romano, the official organ of the Vatican, had published the decree concerning it. The decree is dated February 6, 1874, and is signed by Cardinal de Luca, as Prefect of the Congregation of the Index, and by the secretary, Pius Saccheri. It concludes as follows: Die 25 Februarii 1874 ego infrascriptus magister Cursorum testor supradictum Decretum affixum et publicatum fuisse in Urbe. Philippus Ossani Magister Cursorum. The passage concerning me runs: Gregorovius Ferdinand--Geschichte der Stadt Rom im Mittelalter, vom 5 Jahrhundert bis sum 16 Jahrhundert. Latine vero: urbis Roma in medio-avo a smculo quinto usque ad sceculum decimum sextum tom. 8. Stuttgardice 1870, apud Cotta Bibliopolam. Opus condemnatwn in originali Germanico et in quocumque alio idiomate. According to ancient usage the decrees of the Congregation of the Index should be affixed to the doors of the three great basilicas, S. Peter, S. John in Lateran, and S. Maria Maggiore; further, on those of the Cancellaria and the Curia Innocenziana. But this was no longer possible in the case of the two last. Went to S. Peter's, where I read the decree posted up on the first marble column of the outer entrance. The honoured Cathedral suddenly acquired a personal relation to myself. Never before did I traverse it in such ...